The original plan was to go for a day at Broomfleet Washlands for Damselflies but with only Large Red’s and a few Variable showing at the moment I decided on leaving it a couple of week and going for plan B and to mop up on a few local bird species and then a run down to Old Moor etc to meet family and try to pick up the Glossy Ibis at Wombwell.
The plan was to head out to the Langsett area so I decided on going via Broadstones Res to see what I could pick up on route. I Headed up thru Kirkburton where a Tawny Owl decided on frightening me half to death as it flew across the road in front of the car. At Broadstones all I encountered were Meadow Pipit, plenty of Linnets, Lapwings, Curlew and a single Wheatear
I arrived at the Langsett Barn Car Park to be greeted by a Song Thrush sitting on the nearby fence and Garden Warbler calling from within the car park. I caught up with the Garden Warbler amongst the foliage just beyond the car park giving good views whilst singing away.
Garden Warbler
Common Sandpiper’s could be found on the reservoir walls as I made my way along the dam road, on the grass banking were Jackdaw, Mistle Thrush and Blackbirds busy looking for tasty morsels. I arrived in the wood to be greeted by a noisy Nuthatch calling away drowning out the calls of Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch then I just about made out my first target species of the day a Pied Flycatcher as it was calling within the wood. I was soon on to the fine male bird as it sang from its perch, then flying out from its perch, as flycatchers do, to catch a fine morsel as the unsuspecting insect flew past. I spent sometime with the flycatcher seeing both male and female birds as they brought in food to a nearby nest box. The light was awful today but I did manage a few not so good photos as the male has he was singing from his various perches.
Pied Flycatcher
On then to the other side of the valley where I did catch up with the second target of the day which was a Redstart, this bird was found singing away from the tallest tree in the valley making another difficult species to get a photo of. Other birds in the valley were Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse, Dipper, Stock Dove, Coal Tit, no Cuckoo heard or Crossbills seen., did see Siskin, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler on the way out.
Old Moor RSPB is where I met up with the family for dinner then I managed some time to myself whilst here . The Wader scrape hide was the place of choice seeing Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Avocet, Black headed Gulls, Lesser Black backed Gulls, Sand Martins, Cormorant, Mute Swans, Common Terns
After dinner and saying goodbye to the family I moved on to Wombwell Ings to find the Male Garagney in a good position near the hide, this bird at the moment wasn’t settling in anywhere, visiting Old Moor, Broomhill, Edderthorpe and here so it was great to find it here.
Garganey is a migratory species of duck that arrives in England in late March early April to breed spending winters in Africa and Asia . Other birds included Avocet, Redshank, Mute Swan, Black headed Gulls, Lapwings, Greylag Geese along with Canadas’.
Garganey
Last port of call was Broomhill Flash a small reserve with one large pool highlights here was the numerous Sand and House Martins flying low over the water along with a fewer numbers of Swallows. Swifts were also seen but higher up and in lower numbers.
The day had finished and with no Glossy Ibis in the bag but it was a great days birding much to enjoy. Butterflies encountered today were
In Flight House and Sand Martins [House Martin with the white rump]
The Bird List :-
Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Garganey, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red Grouse, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Black headed Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull, Common Tern, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Tawny Owl, Swift, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Pied wagtail, Dipper, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Redstart, Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Butterfly List :-
Brimstone, Orange tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood
Huddsbirder 